The sentence follows Cunningham’s Sept. 20, 2013 guilty plea to one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. On April 9, 2013, members of the Border Enforcement Security Task Force in Massena followed Cunningham after he crossed into the U.S. Officers stopped him after he crossed into the U.S. through an unmanned border on the reservation.

Law enforcement officers said they searched his sport utility vehicle and found 58,183 grams of 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine Hydrochloride -- commonly known as “Molly” -- as well as over $140,000 in U.S. currency, in hidden compartments and duffel bags.

The street value of the substance is over $5 million, officers said. Cunningham helped load the sport utility vehicle earlier that day, law enforcement officials said.

The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Wayne A. Myers.